Composition of organopolysiloxane copolymers in a phenyl ether solvent

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the preparation of siloxane-oxyalkylene block copolymer surfactant compositions which utilize a hydrosilylation reaction with a phenyl ether as the reaction solvent. The reaction solvent need not not be removed from the block copolymer, particularly when the block copolymer is used as a surfactant for polyurethane foam formulations. Ethylene glycol phenyl ether is the preferred reaction solvent.

Description: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymers by the hydrosilylation reaction of an organohydrogensiloxane and an olefinically substituted polyoxyalkylene in a phenyl ether solvent. The invention is also directed to siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymers obtainable according to said process and the use thereof as surfactant in urethane foam applications. The hydrosilylation reaction between the organohydrogenpolysiloxane and an olefinically substituted polyoxyalkylene reactant is typically performed in a low molecular weight volatile hydrocarbon solvent such as benzene, toluene, xylene or isopropyl alcohol to promote reactant solubility, to aid reactant handling or to moderate an exothermic reaction. Less typically, the hydrosilylation reaction may be conducted without a solvent as in U.S. 3,980,688 or conducted in an oxygen containing solvent such as a high molecular weight alcohol. For example, U.S. 3,280,160 and 3,402,192 disclose the preparation of copolymers in n-butylether and in a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol/toluene, respectively. In U.S. 4,122,029 the use of isopropyl alcohol is disclosed and in U.S. 3,518,288 the patentee teaches the use of n-propanol/toluene for the preparation of siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymers. The solvents employed in U.S. 4,857,583 are saturated polyols containing two or more hydroxyl groups. U.S. 4,857,583 states that if copolymers containing monohydric higher alcohols are used in urethane foam applications, these alcohols will enter the urethane reaction and detrimentally act as reaction chain terminators because they contain only one hydroxyl group. These reactions may also take place in a monocarboxylate ester of an alkanediol solvent as in U.S. 5,153,293. These solvents are advantageous because monocarboxylate ester solvents do not need to be stripped and recovered from the product. In addition, the monocarboxylate ester solvents are not hygroscopic, and therefore problems associated with water contamination are alleviated. Of the above mentioned solvents, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and toluene are the most common solvents used. Silicone polyethers containing polyether groups greater than 10-12 ethylene oxide (EO) units tend to form a hazy 2nd phase layer upon standing. This is believed to be due to unreacted allyl polyether which is added in excess to the reaction to facilitate complete consumption of the silicone hydride. The excess polyether (of EO chain length greater than EO 10-12) has a freeze point near or below room temperature. Thus, the excess freezes and causes the 2nd phase to form. This is problematic in numerous product applications such as personal care, where the appearance of the material is an indication of purity, as well as industrial applications such as polyurethane foam making. In the manufacture of polyurethane foams, a 2nd phase which can settle to the bottom of a drum or tank can cause nonuniform feeds of surfactant into the foam making process. This causes variation in the performance of the surfactant. In contrast to the prior art, the present invention utilizes a phenyl ether solvent. Surprisingly, we have found that phenyl ether solvents not only act as a solvent during hydrosilylation but improve the clarity and reduce the freeze point of the surfactant without a sacrifice of other properties. Our phenyl ether solvents also do not need to be stripped and recovered from the product, saving a process step over earlier methods. In addition, our phenyl ether solvents are not hygroscopic and the problems associated with water contamination are alleviated. Furthermore, phenyl ether solvents are not flammable. It is an object of this invention to provide a process for the preparation of siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymers which have utility in the formulation of urethane foams and which employ a phenyl ether solvent. Another object of this invention to provide siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymers obtainable according to said process and the use thereof as a surfactant in urethane foam formulations. The present invention introduces the use of a glycol phenyl ether, and in particular ethylene glycol phenyl ether (EPh), as both a solvent in the hydrosilation process and as a means to improve the clarity of silicone polyethers. The merits of introducing the EPh in the hydrosilylation process includes improved processing efficiency and quality of the silicone polyether. By conducting the hydrosilylation directly in EPh, or another glycol phenyl ether, the use of a transient coupling solvent (toluene, IPA) is eliminated. This further averts the need to subsequently strip off the solvent. Also, since EPh is already present in the formulation, it is not necessary to add it to supress freeze point properties, which in turn eliminates the need for post blending. This reduces production expenses by eliminating the need for blend tanks. Eliminating solvent strip also reduces the heat history to which the product is exposed, consequently reducing the discoloration potential of the silicone polyether. The copolymers of this invention are prepared by the hydrosilylation reaction between an organohydrogenpolysiloxane and an olefinically substituted polyoxyalkylene, in the presence of a glycol phenyl ether. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of: (I) forming a mixture of: (A) an organosiloxane selected from the group consisting of organohydrogensiloxanes having the average structural formula: R 3 Si[OSi(CH 3 ) 2 ) a [OSiH(CH 3 )] b OSiR 3 in which formula R is a hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a has an average value from 1 to 226, and b has an average value from 1 to 30; (B) a polyoxyalkylene selected from the group consisting of: (i) R 1 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) z -OR 2 (ii) (iii) wherein the (OCH 2 CH 2 ) units and the units may be blocked or random, R 1 is an alkenyl group, R 2 is any substituent which does not interfere with the process; z has a value of from 1 to 40; and w has a value of 1 to 40; (C) a solvent; and (II) maintaining the mixture in an inert atmosphere to a temperature which does not exceed the temperature at which the organohydrogensiloxane reacts with the solvent; (III) adding to said mixture, a catalytic amount of a noble metal hydrosilylation catalyst, ranging from 1 to 30 ppm of noble metal based on the total parts of the mixture and solvent; (IV) maintaining the temperature of said mixture below 130°C.; and (V) recovering said copolymer; characterized in that the solvent is a glycol phenyl ether. The present invention provides a composition of organosiloxane copolymers which are particularly useful in the preparation of rigid, high-resiliency flexible and conventional-flexible polyurethane foams. Our process employs a hydrosilylation reaction of an organohydrogenpolysiloxane and an olefinically substituted polyoxyalkylene in the presence of a glycol phenyl ether. The organohydrogensiloxane compounds suitable in the present invention for the preparation of the copolymers are those having the average structural formula: R 3 Si[OSi(CH 3 ) 2 ] a [OSiH(CH 3 )] b OSiR 3 in which formula R is a hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a has an average value from 1 to 226, and b has an average value from 1 to 30. These organohydrogen siloxanes can be readily prepared by well known reactions and are commercially available. The R group in the organohydrogensiloxane can be any hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation which contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms. For example, R can be an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or an aralkyl radical. More specifically, R can be a methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, tertiary butyl, amyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, tolyl, xylyl, mesityl, t-butylphenyl, benzyl, 2-phenylethyl or a 2-phenylpropyl radical. The olefinically substituted polyoxyalkylene reactant employed in the process of this invention is selected from: (i) R 1 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) z -OR 2 (ii) and (iii) wherein R 1 denotes an alkylene group containing from 3 to 18 carbon atoms; R 2 is any substituent which does not interfere with the hydrosilylation reaction, z has a value of 1 to 40 and w has a value of 1 to 40. The ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units may be blocked or randomly distributed. R 1 is any monovalent alkylene radical. For example, R 1 can be ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene, hexylene, octylene, dodecylene, octadecylene or a triacontylene radical. Preferably, R 1 contains from 3 to 18 carbon atoms. Examples of OR 2 include hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, aryloxy, alkylsilyl, acetyloxy, carbonate ester and isocyanate. Preferably, R 2 does not contain either an amine or mercaptan group. The solvent used in our invention is a glycol phenyl ether preferably a ethylene glycol phenyl ether (EPh) from Dow Chemical Co., Inc., Midland, Mi., as same shows the best overall freeze point characteristics. The hydrosilylation reaction between the organohydrogenpolysiloxane and the olefinically substituted polyoxyalkylene reactant is facilitated by using a catalytic amount of a noble metal containing catalyst. Such catalysts are well known and include platinum, palladium and rhodium-containing catalysts. In practice, this amount of catalyst will usually be within the range of from 1 to 30 ppm of noble metal based on the total parts of the mixture of reactants and solvent. Chloroplatinic acid (H 2 PtCl 6 ·H 2 O) is particularly preferred. The reaction is run at a temperature of from 75 to 130°C. and is preferably run at temperatures of 85 to 110°C. The hydrosilylation reaction can also be optionally conducted in the presence of a carboxylic acid salt. The preferred carboxylic acid salts contain 2 or more carbon atoms and are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Particularly preferred are the monocarboxylic acid salts containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Concentrations up to 10,000 ppm can be employed and the actual amount will be dependent to some degree on the particular carboxylic acid salt employed. The organopolysiloxane surfactants prepared by the process of this invention are particularly useful and have been found to be excellent and efficient surfactants for the preparation of rigid, high resiliency flexible and conventional-flexible polyurethane foams. It has been found that the surfactants of this invention provide excellent levels of performance to polyurethane foams and avoid the necessity of solvent removal from the reaction mixture in which the organopolysiloxane was prepared. Since a relatively non-toxic solvent is used and its removal from the reaction mixture is avoided, the surfactants are prepared under desirable environmental conditions. In producing polyurethane foams using the surfactant of this invention, one or more polyether polyols are employed for the reaction with the polyisocyanate reactant to provide the urethane linkage. Such polyether polyols have an average of at least two, and typically 2.0 to 3.5, hydroxyl groups per molecule. They include compounds which consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and compounds that may also contain phosphorous, halogen and/or nitrogen. Such polyether polyols are well known in the art and are commercially available. The organic polyisocyanates useful in producing polyether polyurethane foams in the process of our invention are also well known in the art and are organic compounds that contain at least two isocyanate groups and any such compounds or mixtures thereof can be employed. The toluene diisocyanates are among many suitable isocyanates which are commercially used in the preparation of foams. The urethane-foaming reaction is usually conducted in the presence of a minor amount of a catalyst, preferably an amine catalyst and usually a tertiary amine. It is also preferred to include a minor amount of certain metal catalysts in addition to the amine catalyst in the reaction mixture. Such supplementary catalysts are well known to those skilled in the art of polyether-based polyurethane foam manufacture. They include organic derivatives of tin, particularly tin compounds of carboxylic acids such as stannous octoate, stannous oleate and the like. Foaming is accomplished by employing a small amount of a polyurethane blowing agent such as water in the reaction mixture, which upon reaction with isocyanate generates carbon dioxide in situ, through the use of blowing agents which are vaporized by the exotherm of the reaction or by a combination of the two. These methods are also well known in the art. The polyether-based polyurethane foams may be formed by any of the processing techniques known in the art such as, the "one-shot" technique, also known as the "one-step" technique. In this method, foamed products are provided by carrying out the reaction of the polyisocyanate and polyether polyol simultaneously with the foaming operation. It is sometimes convenient to add the surfactant to the reaction mixture as a premixture with one or more of the blowing agents, polyether, polyol and catalyst components. It is understood that the relative amounts of these latter components of the foam formulation are not critical. The polyether polyol and polyisocyanate are present in the foam-producing formulation in a major amount. The relative amounts of the major components to produce the desired urethane structure of the foam are well known in the art. The blowing agent, catalyst and surfactant are each present in a minor amount necessary to achieve the exact function of that component. Thus, the blowing agent is present in an amount sufficient to foam the reaction mixture, the catalyst is present in a catalytic amount necessary to catalyze the reaction to yield urethane at a reasonable rate and the surfactant is present in an amount sufficient to impart the desired properties as indicated in Tables I-V. The polyurethanes produced can be used in the same areas as conventional-flexible, high-resiliency flexible and rigid polyether polyurethanes. For example, the foams can be used in the manufacture of textile interliners, furniture, mattresses, laminates, linings, building insulation, flooring leveling, cushions, mattresses, padding, carpet underlay, packaging, gaskets, sealers, thermal insulators, upholstery, absorbent of oil spills, marine flotation, auto components, cigarette filters, boat hulls, soundproofing, salvage operations, ship-building (for buoyancy), transportation insulation for box cars, refrigerated cars, tank and hopper cars, trucks and trailers, insulation for storage tanks, ship holds, pipelines and the like. In the following examples, Samples 1-7 are polyethers prepared for use as surfactants. Each sample was made using a different phenyl or phenyl ether as the coupling solvent. Otherwise, Samples 1-7 were prepared using identical procedures and reactants. The process for making the sufactants is described below. Seven individual mixtures were prepared, each consisting of 31.88 g of (CH 3 ) 3 SiO((CH 3 ) 2 SiO) 226 (HSiCH 3 O) 30 OSi(CH 3 ) 3 (17.71% by weight), 89.69 g of CH 2 =CHCH 3 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 18 (CHCH 3 CH 2 O) 18 COCH 3 (49.83% by weight) and 22.43 g of CH 2 =CHCH 3 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 12 COCH 3 (12.46% by weight). Each mixture was loaded into a separate one liter 3-neck flask having an air powered stir motor, 10 bulb condenser and thermowell with sidearm hose adaptor. After mixing, 36 g of a solvent were added to each mixture, the solvent comprising 20% by weight of each mixture. Table #1 describes the solvent added. Types of Ether Added as Solvent Sample Solvent 1. Ethylene Glycol Phenyl Ether 2. Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether 3. Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether 4. Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether 5. Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acetate 6. Diphenyl Ether 7. Ethyl Phenyl Ether The solvents were mixed in the flasks, then nitrogen fed into each flask through the sidearm adapter. The mixtures were heated to 75°C. A cataylst, consisting of a 0.69 wt% (as Pt) solution of chloroplatonic acid in isopropyl alcohol was added and the temperatures of the mixtures were heated to 95°C. The fluids were mixed at 95°C. for 90 minutes. At that time, the residual SiH was measured by Fourier Transformer IR (FTIR), said technique being well know in the art. If the residual SiH was found to be zero, then the fluid was cooled and collected. If the residual SiH was not zero, then the fluid was allowed to react until it reached zero, then cooled and collected or the reaction was stopped before the residual SiH equaled zero and the fluid was cooled and collected. These surfactants were used in the experiments conducted below. Example I Table #2 summarizes the physical properties and hydrosilylation reaction profiles for the seven reactions. The amount of residual SiH was measured to determine compatibility of the reactants of the initial mixture and the releative usefullness of the solvents. If the solvent promotes good conduct between the reactants, then short batch times will result and residual SiH will be low after the reaction is completed. Hydrosilylation & Physical Properties Sample No. Solvent Batch Time (min) Residual SiH (ppm) Viscosity (mm 2 /s) 1. Ethylene Glycol 90 0 2309 Phenyl Ether 2. Propylene Glycol 90 0 1995 Phenyl Ether 3. Dipropylene Glycol 90 0 782 Methyl Ether 4. Propylene Glycol 90 0 745 n-Butyl Ether 5. Propylene Glycol 90 80 536 Methyl Ether Acetate 6. Diphenyl Ether 370 7 1183 7. Ethyl Phenyl 270 12 721 Ether Sample 5 did not consume all the SiH within the 90 minute batch time, as indicated by the residual SiH level of 80. This calculated to only 80% of the available of SiH sites being consumed. The reaction was not carried further and the product of Sample 5 was collected with this level of residual SiH. The longer batch time illustrated in Table #2 is assumed to be the result of the poorer compatibilizing ability of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate. The two non-glycol phenyl ethers, Samples 6 and 7, also exhibited long batch times. The reactions were allowed to go to completion and the time required to consume all the SiH monitored. The reaction utilizing diphenyl ether (Sample 6) resulted in a fluid with 7 ppm residual SiH. However, a batch time of 370 minutes was required to achieve this level of completion. The reaction utilizing ethyl phenyl ether (Sample 7) resulted in a residual SiH level of 12 ppm. A batch time of 270 minutes was required in this instance. Both residual SiH levels are well within acceptable levels for reaction completion. Example II Samples 1 through 7 of each reaction mixture were then placed in sealed 29.6 ml (1 oz.) vials and stored in a 9°C. refrigerator. The appearance of the samples was monitored as a function of time. Table #3 summarizes this data. Appearance vs. Time at 9°C. Sample # Solvent Appearance (after x days in refrigerator) 0 1 5 12 19 21 35 1. Ethylene Glycol Phenyl Ether 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2. Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3. Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether 0 1 2 3 - - 3 4. Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether 0 0 2 3 - - 3 5. Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acetate 0 0 0 2 - - 3 6. Diphenyl Ether 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 7. Ethyl Phenyl Ether 0 1 1 - 1 2 - Key 0 = clear, amber fluid; 1 = slight, uniformly hazy fluid; 2 = flocculent present in fluid; 3 = 2nd layer settled out on bottom of vial; 5 = frozen; - = no data available. Table #3 shows that the materials prepared with the class of phenyl ethers remain constant in appearance over the course of time. Samples 1 and 2, which were prepared in ethylene glycol phenyl ether and propylene glycol phenyl ether remained clear, amber fluids over the course of the experiment. The sample prepared in diphenyl ether (Sample 6) had an initial uniform hazy appearance. It did not change in appearance over the course of the experiment. The sample prepared in ethyl phenyl ether (Sample 7) was clear and amber initially. It began to flocculate after three weeks at 9°C., but nothing settled to the bottom of the vial. The samples prepared with the other solvents all changed dramatically over the course of the experiment. Samples 3, 4 and 5, which were prepared with dipropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether and propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, all were initially clear, amber fluids. Upon storage in the 9°C. refrigerator, they went through phases where they hazed, flocculated and eventually a layer separated on the bottom of the vial. These were in stark contrast to the clear, uniform one phase appearance of Samples 1 and 2. Example III Sample 1 was evaluated in a polyurethane foam formulation to determine its ability to stabilize the flexible foam produced. A sample of surfactant was added to urethane raw materials as described earlier, then mixed, then allowed to free rise. One measure of performance of the surfactant is determined by measuring the height to which the foam rises and cures. The results are shown in Table #4. Foam Performance of Sample 1 v. Control Sample ID FRH (mm) FCH (mm) Density [kg/m 3 ] (lb m /ft 3 ) Surf Wt(g) T-10 (g) Control Trial 1 656.8 635.7 18.74/16.18 (1.17/1.01) 2.5 .75 Trial 2 656.0 636.1 19.06/16.34 (1.19/1.02) 2.5 .75 Trial 3 657.4 637.0 19.38/16.66 (1.21/1.04) 2.5 .75 Sample 1 Trial 1 656.5 637.7 18.74/16.50 (1.17/1.03) 2.5 .75 Trial 2 657.4 636.4 18.26/15.86 (1.14/0.99) 2.5 .75 Trial 3 657.8 636.3 15.06/16.02 (1.19/1.00) 2.5 .75 The surfactant used as the control did not contain a phenyl ether as a solvent or additive, but instead was produced using a conventional solvent of isopropyl alcohol. The values measured were the free rise height (FRH), which measures the highest point to which the foam rises (mm), the free cured height (FCH), which is the height of the foam when cured (mm) and the density of the cured foam [kg/m 3 ] (lb m /ft 3 ). In addition, the table shows the amount (g) of tin cataylst added to the mixture, (T-10) and the amount (g) of surfactant by weight added to the foam. The performance of the foam containing the phenyl ether solvent of Sample 1 shows results virtually identical to the results using the standard control solvent. The free rise heights in each trial and the free cured heights were virtually identical. Moreover, the density of the control surfactant and the phenyl ether surfactant were similar. In conclusion, the phenyl ether surfactant performed well compared to the control as a foaming additive. Example IV Table #5 details a study examining the appearance of Sample 1 relative to a series of silicone polyethers produced using existing technologies. Individual samples of each material were stored in the lab or outside under ambient winter conditions (generally under -1.1°C. [30°F.]). The samples included were prepared as follows: Sample A was prepared in the same manner as Samples 1-7 descibed above except that TEXANOL™ was used as the solvent, comprising 20% by weight of the total reaction mixture. TEXANOL™ is an ether alcohol, available from Eastman Chemical, Kingsport, Tenn. Sample A represents the same current, standard industrial solvent as the control group descibed in Example IV above. Sample B was prepared in the same manner as Samples 1-7 descibed above except that TEXANOL™ was used as the solvent, comprising 30% by weight of the total reaction mixture. Sample B was included to ascertain if simply increasing the level of TEXANOL™ would improve the clarity of the mixture. Sample C was prepared in the same manner as Sample A described above except that CH 2 =CHCH 3 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 18 (CHCH 3 CH 2 O) 18 COCH 3 was the sole polyether used in the preparation of the silicone polyether. The CH 2 =CHCH 3 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 12 H, which was suspected of causing the 2nd phase was omitted from the mixture. TEXANOL™ was used as the solvent, comprising 20% by weight of the total reaction mixture. Sample D was equivalent to Sample 1 earlier described. APPEARANCE VS. TIME Inside Samples (temp.∼68°F.) [20°C.] Material Appearance on Specified Date 1/15/93 1/18/93 1/19/93 1/25/93 1/28/93 2/10/93 2/16/93 Sample A - - 1 2 2 3 3 Sample B - 3 3 3 3 3 3 Sample C 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 Sample D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Outside Samples (temp 6°F. - 37°F.) [-14.4 - +2.8°C.] Sample A 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Sample B - 3 3 3 3 3 3 Sample C 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 Sample D 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 Table #5 shows that Sample A produced in TEXANOL ™ not only forms a second phase layer, but upon standing in ambient winter conditions freezes and becomes nonpourable. This clearly would not be an acceptable product for industrial use. Sample B (30% TEXANOL™) formed a second phase as well indicating that adding more TEXANOL™ will not resolve a clarity issue at least below the 30% level. Sample C prepared without CH 2 =CHCH 3 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 12 H yielded a material which remained clear and pourable, showing the impact of the CH 2 =CHCH 3 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 12 H on the formation of a 2nd phase. Sample D remained clear and pourable throughout the study. Very slight haze was detected in Sample D stored outside. No evidence of any separation was detected in Sample D kept in the lab.

Claims: A process for the preparation of an organosiloxane copolymer, in a phenyl ether solvent comprising the steps of: (I) forming a mixture of: (A) an organosiloxane selected from the group consisting of organohydrogensiloxanes having the average structural formula: R 3 Si[OSi(CH 3 ) 2 ] a [OSiH(CH 3 )] b OSiR 3 in which formula R is a hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a has an average value from 1 to 226, and b has an average value from 1 to 30; (B) a polyoxyalkylene selected from the group consisting of: (i) R 1 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) z -OR 2 (ii) (iii) wherein the (OCH 2 CH 2 ) units and the units may be blocked or random, R 1 an alkenyl group, R 2 is any substituent which does not interfere with the process; z has a value of from 1 to 40; and w has a value of 1 to 40; (C) a solvent; and (II) maintaining the mixture in an inert atmosphere to a temperature which does not exceed the temperature at which the organohydrogensiloxane reacts with the solvent; (III) adding to said mixture, a catalytic amount of a noble metal hydrosilylation catalyst, ranging from 1 to 30 ppm of noble metal based on the total parts of the mixture and solvent; (IV) maintaining the temperature of said mixture below 130°C.; and (V) recovering said copolymer; characterized in that the solvent is a glycol phenyl ether. The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature in step (II) is from 75°C to 130°C. The process of claim 1 wherein the glycol phenyl ether is ethylene glycol phenyl ether. The process of claim 3 wherein the phenyl ether is present in an amount of from 15 to 35 weight percent based on the total weight of said mixture. The process of claim 1 wherein the organosiloxane has the average formula Me 3 SiO(Me 2 SiO) 1-226 (MeHSiO) 1-30 SiMe 3 . The process of claim 1 wherein the noble metal hydrosilylation catalyst is H 2 PtCl 6 ·H 2 O. A composition of an organosiloxane copolymer obtainable by the process as defined in any of claims 1 to 6. Use of a composition of claim 7 as a surfactant in urethane foam applications.

Inventors: PETROFF LENIN JAMES, STANCA MICHAEL ALLEN, STEGER JOSEPH STANLEY, THORNSBERRY JAMES DARRYLL, PETROFF, LENIN JAMES, STANCA, MICHAEL ALLEN, STEGER, JOSEPH STANLEY, THORNSBERRY, JAMES DARRYLL
Applicants: DOW CORNING, DOW CORNING CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C08L83
IPC codes: C08G81, C08J3, C08G77